Clinics & Services

Review of long term conditions

Long term conditions are managed by the whole Surgery Team-G.P.s, nurses, nurse practitioners andour healthcare assistant.

We encourage patients to take an active role in helping to manage their own conditions, but it is important that the Surgery Team undertake regular reviews, even if you are seen at a hospital clinic.

You will receive written invitations to attend clinics on a timely basis, and members of our Team will encourage you to attend if at all possible. These reviews will help us all to manage your condition effectively and efficiently. We aim to adopt a patient centred approach in all our long term illness reviews. Please ensure you call and book an appointment with our trained reception staff and that you do not book online.

Some conditions may require blood tests, and it would be helpful if you could have these done approximately a week before your appointment. Certain medications also require regular blood testmonitoring so we can safely continue to prescribe them at the effective dosage.

We thank you for your cooperation in helping to run our reviews proficiently.

Please also let your health care practitioner know if you have anyone who supplies care and support to you.

We do our utmost to see that patients suffering from the following receive regular screening to ensure optimum control:

Asthma: Having a regular check up gives you an opportunity to ensure that your asthma is being properlycontrolled, and gives you the chance to ask any questions you may have, such as identifying anytriggers that may set off your asthma. The appointment will be for 20 minutes.Above and beyond your routine review, you should make an extra appointment to see a G.P.or nurse if…-you have had a serious attack-you have had to go to hospital-your peak flow drops-your symptoms are getting worse.Please bring all your inhalers to the review.

Diabetes: At your diabetic appointment (30 minute allocation) your nurse will review your blood test results, and together with you, will plan your care and management. The aim is to help you to understand your condition, and suggest any lifestyle changes that might be of value. The nurse will also check your weight. Uncontrolled high blood sugar levels can, over time, damage your body in many ways. We check urine to assess any damage to your kidneys, check blood pressure, and do a brief check of your foot pulses and sensation. Good foot care is essential for all diabetics. The health authority also run diabetic eye checks, and it is important that you attend these in addition to the Surgery run clinics.

Heart Disease: You will be called for review with the GP if you have any issues with any heart conditions.

Hypertension: Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to many complications involving the heart and general circulation. It is important for you to have regular blood pressure checks so that we van ensure that your blood pressure is maintained at a level appropriate for you. It may be necessary to alter dosages, and medication type according to response and the presence or absence of any side effects, so it is important to mention any of the latter at your appointment

COPD: Your routine COPD review will last 20 minutes. A common cause of COPD is smoking, and if you do smoke, we will offer you help and support to stop; successfully stopping smoking may improve your symptoms, and stop your condition deteriorating. Above and beyond your review, if you experience any worsening of symptoms you should make an extra appointment to see your doctor. Please bring all medications to the review.

Other Services

Maternity - When you have found out about your pregnancy, you can speak to the receptionist and they will provide you with the initial pregnancy pack, where you will then be able to make an appointment directly with the Midwife.If you did want to see the GP to discuss your pregnancy then you are more than welcome to make an appointment with a GP. Your care will be the responsibility of the community midwife. It is ideal to register the newborn baby after the birth with the GP as soon as possible and we are encouraging parents to please make their first vaccination appointment at this time. The baby will have to have reached 8 weeks. The receptionists will work out the 8th week for you on registering your newborn to the surgery.

Post Natal Checks - It is advised that both mother and baby should arrange an appointment with the GP, for post natal and a 6 week baby check.

Contraception - advice and services are available by appointment with either a GP or a nurse.

Minor Ops - our nurses and/or doctors are able to carry out some minor operations such as excisions and cautery at the surgery.

NHS Health Checks - once you have received your invitation for a NHS check, please contact the surgery and let the receptionist know and then they will generate a blood test form, as you need to have this done two weeks prior to your appointment.

Non-NHS Services

Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include the following:

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.

Chaplaincy Service

As from Tuesday 3rd July 2018 we will be offering a Chaplaincy service at the Reynard Surgery Red Lodge. Gordon Anderson will be available for pastoral appointments every Tuesday morning between 9.30 – 12:00. If you would like to make an appointment to see Gordon, or for any other information, please contact Reception.

Child Immunisation

It is important that your child immunisation programme is kept up to date, therefore we offer appointments with a Nurse.

Every Tuesday afternoon is a baby vaccination clinic which is alternated between Reynard and White House Surgery. The second Tuesday of every month, we offer baby vaccinations morning and afternoon. Please ensure you clarify with the receptionists which surgery your appointment is at.

The Nurses do not vaccinate your baby whilst they are on a short course of antibiotics or have a raised temperature. If you are concerned about this, you are welcome to ring the Nurse on the day of your appointment, if you think that your child is unwell.

The vaccinations are a minimum of 4 weeks apart. We do ask that you book the next vaccination straight after your appointment to avoid delay.

Child vaccinations begin at 8 weeks. If you have any queries, regarding your child's vaccinations, please contact the Nurse.

Should you wish to view the current UK vaccination schedule, please connect to the link below to view this;

Medication Reviews

It is important that you are aware of why you take your medications, and that we are aware of any side effects; it is also very important that the medication you take is actually working!

In order to ensure this, we will ask you to have regular medication reviews. In certain cases, if you take more than six regular medications, we invite you in for a so called polypharmacy review-this may take a little longer than normal.

Certain types of drugs, such as opiates also need to be reviewed regularly, and you will be requested to attend an opiate review as appropriate.

You will be reminded to have routine blood test if your medication requires them for monitoring purposes.

Carers

A carer is defined as any person, adult or child, who provides unpaid support to a partner, relative or friend who could not otherwise manage to live independently or whose health and well being would deteriorate without this help. This could be due to frailty, disability or serious health condition, mental ill health or substance misuse.

Caring is very rewarding, but it can have an effect on physical and mental health and wellbeing.

This Practice aims to offer carers whatever support is appropriate. If you are a carer, please let one of the Surgery team know so that we can provide you with the necessary help and information. Whenever possible, we will offer flexibility with appointments so that they fit in with your carer commitments.

We will offer you an influenza jab, and a routine health check. We can also offer assistance with filling in forms and other administrative tasks that you have to fulfil, as well as signposting you to organisations where you can get help and support.

We work closely with Suffolk Family Carers, and we have a dedicated member of staff, Bev Mosdall, who is our Carer Champion.

We are in the process of establishing a carers’ noticeboard in the Surgery to keep you up to date with relevant information and news.

Immunisations

We will be launching our ‘flu campaign' in the autumn, and we will be sending out invitations to all those eligible for the jab in due course-it is important to have the vaccination to stay well this winter!

There has been much in the media recently about a Europe-wide decline in the uptake of childhood vaccinations. As a Surgery, we totally support the NHS opinion that all children should be vaccinated. However, if you do have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to speak withone of our nurses.

Social Prescribing

Social prescribing is a non-medical model used to increase an individual’s wellbeing whilst reducing demand on statutory and health services. By using existing community assets within our local area, the aim is to make a positive difference to the lives of those who may be living with, for example, low mood, social isolation, anxiety, a long term condition, or anyone who would like to get more involved in their local community.This Surgery is involved in the development of social prescribing in the Mildenhall and Red Lodge localities.

Keep an eye on our website for further information in the coming months.

Travel Vaccinations

The Reynard and Whitehouse Surgery are no longer offering a travel health advice service or certain travel vaccinations.

Patients will be advised to contact a travel advice centre for information that they require for their holiday/travel.

There are various travel centre clinics in Cambridge, Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds for example, which provide a full travel health service. You will have to book appointments with a clinic of your choice. You can access this information about clinics via NHS Choices.

Please ask the receptionist to print a copy of your vaccinations, for your record and for you to take to the travel clinic.

If the receptionist cannot see any records and you think you have had vaccinations in the past, then the receptionists will ask a Practice Nurse to check your paper records. Please allow time for the Practice Nurse to do this.